The Incidents
The first report came in on April 10. A 38-year-old woman was in a northside Lethbridge grocery store parking lot when an unknown man approached her and told her she had a spider on her back. He then touched her back and buttocks without consent and fled in a black 2025 Volkswagen Jetta.
Nearly a month later, on May 5, a 47-year-old woman reported a similar assault in a westside grocery store parking lot. Both incidents followed the same pattern: a stranger approaching a woman alone, using a pretext to make physical contact.
The Arrest
Through investigation, police identified the suspect and arrested him without incident on May 7 two days after the second reported assault.
Mackenzie Jackson Murray, 35, of Fort Macleod faces two counts of sexual assault. He remains in custody awaiting a Judicial Interim Release hearing the stage in Canada's court process where a judge decides whether an accused is released or held until trial.
Police Say There May Be More Victims
Lethbridge Police have released a photo of Murray publicly, which is not standard practice for every arrest. When police take this step, it typically means investigators believe the known incidents represent only part of a larger pattern.
Anyone who encountered Murray or experienced something similar is asked to contact Lethbridge Police at 403-328-4444, referencing file number 26006625.
Reporting Crime in Lethbridge
If you witness suspicious activity or want to report a crime anonymously, Lethbridge Police offer several options. You can call the non-emergency line at 403-328-4444, or contact Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477. For emergencies, call 911.
Note that tips submitted by phone, email, or social media to Lethbridge Police are not anonymous all messages are recorded and subject to disclosure in court. For anonymous reporting, Crime Stoppers is the only option.
Source:
https://www.lethbridgepolice.ca/news/posts/police-charge-male-with-sexual-assault-and-believe-there-may-be-additional-victims-26006625/
